Garmin Edge 500 GPS-Enabled Cycle Computer

Garmin Edge 500 GPS-Enabled Cycle Computer Introduction

Developed in conjunction with Garmin's sponsored athletes - including Team Garmin Slipstream.
Smaller unit size reduces weight (it is half the weight of the Edge 705) and pares down the navigation tools to focus on GPS assisted training data.

Road.cc Says...

"Garmin's Edge 500 GPS computer is a little wonder for giving you all your ride information in an easy-to-use and downloadable package.

You can buy the Edge 500 with a speed/cadence senor and a heart rate strap (£249.99) or you can just go for the head unit on its own (£199.99). Used alone, it tracks your speed and distance via satellite technology and you rarely lose the signal on the road – just occasionally when you’re riding beneath overhanging trees or next to tall buildings.

Measuring just 48 x 69 x 22cm and weighing in at 65g (including mounts), the Edge 500 is barely larger than a simple bike computer, and it mounts securely to your bar or stem in seconds with a little plastic widget and rubber O-rings.

The best bit is the range of information on offer here and the fact that it’s fully customisable. You get all the basic speed and distance measurements that you’d expect along with gradient, total ascent/descent, lap times and averages… you get the idea. Plus, if you go for the speed/cadence sensor you get more information there, and if you use a heart rate strap you can view the measurements in a variety of different ways. It’ll link up with ANT+ power-measuring equipment too, which is a massive bonus if you train by wattage.

You can select the amount and the type of information you want on the display up to a maximum of eight fields at a time, and up to three different pages. So, for example, you can have current speed and distance measurements on one page, your averages on a second screen, and altitude/climbing data on a third. If you find it hard to read eight fields of data you can reduce it to four, say, and increase the size of each, and if you’re not interested in the temperature or the calories you’ve burnt up, ditch them. Scrolling through it all via the waterproof buttons, which are positioned on the sides, is pretty easy even with gloved fingers – we’ve had no problems there – and you get a backlight for night riding.

When you get home, you can transfer all the info either to Garmin Training Center – which is essentially a training logbook on your computer – or to Garmin Connect, which is web based and really useful. We love the ‘player’ feature that runs through your route on a Google map or satellite image, showing you how your speed, heart rate, elevation and so on changed throughout the ride. You can analyse away to your heart’s content.

Unlike some models in Garmin’s range, the Edge 500 doesn’t give you mapping features – well, not really, although you can follow a breadcrumb trail from Garmin Training Center. You don’t get turn-by-turn directions, but is that a problem for you? Maybe it is, maybe it isn’t.

Garmin reckon the rechargeable battery gives you up to 16 hours of use and, although we’ve never got quite that much, there’s enough juice in there for pretty much any ride.

Verdict
Neat, self-contained GPS computer with excellent downloadable ride info"

 

Specification & Features of Garmin Edge 500 GPS-Enabled Cycle Computer

• Ability to follow uploaded courses.
• A unique GPS-enhanced cycle computer that provides extensive and accurate data to make this an invaluable training partner.
• Completely wireless operation, making installation easy.
• Uses a high-sensitivity SiRF GPS receiver to track your movements.
• The large screen can be backlit at night for easy viewing, and customised to show the data you want.
• Waterproof to IPX7 standard (up to 1 metre for 30 minutes).
• Uses a rechargeable lithium-polymer battery, providing up to 15 hours operation.
• Compatible with Garmin's heart rate monitor and Cadence sensors using robust ANT Plus wireless technology, along with third party power meters.
• Monitor your pedalling cadence as you ride with this self-calibrating, wireless speed / cadence sensor.
• Unit dimensions (cm) - W x H x D: 4.8 x 6.9 x 2.2.
• Display size 128 x 160 pixels: 4.31 cm (diagonal).
• Weight: 56.7 grams.

Garmin Edge 500 GPS-Enabled Cycle Computer is perfect for:

• Cyclist.